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Surgeon Salary By State – 1/7/2014

Geographical Location Plays A Key Role In Determining A Surgeon’s Salary

Surgeons are trained and licensed to operate on patients to repair injuries, alter deformities, and remove certain illnesses or diseases, like tumors. From broken bones to life-threatening brain and heart illnesses, surgeons make life-and-death decisions every day. For that level of education, complex knowledge, and on-the-spot decision making, surgeons are well compensated.

National Surgeon Statistics

Surgeons are classified with physicians in the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2010, the median pay for physicians and surgeons was $166,400. The job outlook for the field is projected to improve by 24 percent between 2010 and 2020, faster than the national average of 14 percent across all occupations.

Top States For Surgeons

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also publishes Occupational Employment Statistics for surgeons. As of May 2012, the states with the highest employment levels for surgeons include California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Florida. Ohio tops the list with an annual mean wage of $236,290. The top paying states for surgeons include Wyoming, West Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, and South Dakota, all with annual salaries at or above $187,199.

Surgeon Salary By State

Alabama: $167,000; 2 percent higher than the national average for surgeon salaries.

Alaska: $138,000; 16 percent lower than the national average.

American Samoa: $177,000; 8 percent higher than average.

Arizona: $144,000; 12 percent lower than average.

Arkansas: $162,000; 1 percent lower than the national average.

California: $180,000; 10 percent higher than average.

Colorado: $144,000; 12 percent lower than average.

Connecticut: $177,000; 8 percent higher than average.

Delaware: $152,000; 7 percent lower.

Florida: $156,000; 5 percent lower.

Georgia: $179,000; 9 percent higher.

Guam: $138,000; 16 percent lower.

Hawaii: $116,000; 29 percent lower.

Idaho: $135,000; 17 percent lower.

Illinois: $172,000; 5 percent higher.

Indiana: $164,000; the same as the national average for surgeon jobs.

Iowa: $153,000; 7 percent lower than the national average.

Kansas: $149,000; 9 percent lower.

Kentucky: $143,000; 13 percent lower.

Louisiana: $138,000; 16 percent lower.

Maine: $146,000; 11 percent lower.

Maryland: $165,000; equal to the U.S. national average for surgeon jobs.

Massachusetts: $188,000; 14 percent higher.

Michigan: $160,000; 3 percent lower.

Minnesota: $148,000; 10 percent lower.

Mississippi: $191,000; 16 percent higher.

Missouri: $163,000; 1 percent lower.

Montana: $166,000; 1 percent higher.

Nebraska: $132,000; 19 percent lower.

Nevada: $151,000; 8 percent lower.

New Hampshire: $161,000; 2 percent lower.

New Jersey: $173,000; 6 percent higher.

New Mexico: $147,000; 10 percent higher.

New York: $193,000; 17 percent higher.

North Carolina: $162,000; 1 percent lower than the national average.

North Dakota: $154,000; 6 percent lower.

Ohio: $155,000; 6 percent lower.

Oklahoma: $150,000; 9 percent lower.

Oregon: $154,000; 6 percent lower.

Pennsylvania: $144,000; 12 percent lower.

Puerto Rico: $166,000; 1 percent higher than average.

Rhode Island: $164,000; the same as the national average for surgeon jobs as calculated by SalaryByState.org.

South Carolina: $148,000; 10 percent lower than average surgeon salaries.

South Dakota: $128,000; 22 percent lower than average.

Tennessee: $155,000; 6 percent lower than average.

Texas: $144,000; 12 percent lower than average.

Utah: $144,000; 12 percent lower.

Vermont: $154,000; 6 percent lower.

Virgin Islands: $189,000; 15 percent higher.

Virginia: $164,000; equal to the national average for surgeon jobs.

Washington State: $187,000; 14 percent higher than the national average.

Washington, D.C.: $156,000; 5 percent lower.

West Virginia: $162,000; 1 percent lower.

Wisconsin: $144,000; 12 percent lower.

Wyoming: $151,000; 8 percent lower.

It’s difficult to determine how much value to place on these average salaries. Factors like cost of living affect how far your money will go in any given location.

In addition, estimates can vary widely. For example, BLS 2012 estimates place Ohio as the top-paying state for surgeons, with a mean annual wage of $236,290. SalaryByState.org’s online job search criteria place Ohio below the national average for surgeon salaries at $155,000.

Incomplete or incorrect data combined with differences in pay scale and job demands at different institutions, hospitals, and corporations mean averages may not provide the most useful insights to the overall value of a surgeon’s pay.